LODI, Calif. – The St. Francis swimming team recorded 11 finalists among seven student-athletes in seven different events and all three relays at the Sac-Joaquin Section trials held Thursday at Tokay High School.

Four student-athletes qualified in two events each including Erin Crooks (200 IM and 100 Fly), Katie McIntee (200 Free, 100 Free) and Emily Peters (50 Free, 100 Free).

Junior Chloe Mitchell was the top finisher in the trials with a fourth-place in the 500 freestyle with a personal-best 4:56.48.

“It feels great,” said Mitchell. “This is a race I have been working on going under the 5-minute mark for a really long time. I was barely chipping away, chipping away. I knew when I would finally go under it would be really far under. I am really excited.”

She will contend for a spot in the CIF State Championships on Saturday with a top-three finish or an automatic qualifier. She will also swim in the 200 free consolation final after finishing ninth on Thursday in 1:52.47.

“It is the goal (making state) and if I can take off another second or two it will put me in an even better spot for college recruiting,” said Mitchell.

While she did not advance to the finals on Saturday, the race of the day belonged to senior Cami Cunningham. She set an 18-second personal-best in the 500 free with a time 5:29.53, evoking a look of shock and then pure happiness when she saw her time on the board and made eye contact with her coaches.

“I knew I was going fast on my first 100 and I thought why not keep it up,” said Cunningham. “Even when it kept hurting I tried to go as fast as I could. It worked I guess.”

Cunningham, who will give the salutatorian address at graduation next week, also had a PR in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:02.98.

“It is awesome,” said Cunningham. “It has not happened to me at sections before.”

Kristen Lance (100 Breast), Elizabeth Fugit (200 Free) and Tatum Roepkie (100 Fly) were among the other varsity finalists. All three Troubadours relays also advanced including a second-place finish by the 400-freestyle relay team.

The Troubadours also had several swimmers and relays advance in the Frosh/Soph meet.

Finals start on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Tokay High School.

Sac-Joaquin Section Varsity Individual Finalists

200 Free – 11. Katie McIntee, 1:54.60, 15. Elizabeth Crooks, 1:57.29; 15. Elizabeth Fugit, 1:57.29; 200 IM – 11. Erin Crooks, 2:10.84; 50 Free – 6. Emily Peters, 24.35; 100 Free – 6. Katie McIntee, 53.10, 13. Emily Peters, 54.86; 500 Free – 4. Chloe Mitchell, 4:56.48; 100 Fly – 9. Erin Crooks, 58.82, 16. Tatum Roepke, 1:00.47; 100 Breast – 16. Kristen Lance, 1:10.86.

Sac-Joaquin Section Varsity Relay Finalists

200 Medley Relay – 6. 1:51.37; 200 Free Relay – 3. 1:41.38; 400 Free Relay – 2. 3:47.91.